"Over the coming year we plan to test three order and collection points in the UK, exploring slightly different formats in each selected market," the retailer said. "We will use these tests as an opportunity to find out more about how customers want to shop with Ikea in these areas."

"While we are seriously considering this opportunity, we have nothing to confirm at this point in time while discussions are ongoing."

The development, first reported by The Sunday Times, underlines the experiments by big-box retailers with smaller format stores. Carpetright is experimenting with smaller high street stores, while Argos, part of Home Retail Group, is opening smaller outlets on high streets, as well as click and collect points in locations such as stations. B&Q, owned by Kingfisher, has also looked at more compact stores than its traditional big boxes.

In September, six months after the BHS deal, Retail Acquisitions, led by Dominic Chappell, secured £65m of funding from Grovepoint Capital, a London-based investment group, to try to revive the fortunes of the ailing department store chain.